The Australian asphalt industry in conjunction with the Australian Asphalt Pavement Association AAPA, has conducted extensive Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) studies of asphalt and composite pavements to assist the validation and calibration of laboratory performance related tests, to enhance full depth asphalt (FDA) pavement thickness design reliability, and to check the achievement of perpetual pavement conditions. The results of the LTPP evaluation, the materials sampling and testing are summarised. All the LTPP sites were found to be in good to excellent condition after varying service to 40 years. The enormity of the work required for successful LTPP studies and a critical shortage of resources is a key finding. Considerable overseas LTPP efforts and research into the endurance limit of asphalt materials underpinning the perpetual pavement concept is discussed. The paper concludes with some practical FDA construction recommendations. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E220164.
Abstract